• UGI USER
  • Apr 11, 2024
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IN A HEATWAVE, HOW DO WE PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE?

Relevance: GS 1 – Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Why in the News?

  • The year 2023 was globally recognized as the warmest on record, with a trend of increasing temperatures over the past several decades.
    • In India, 2023 ranked as the second warmest year in 122 years of recorded history, following 2016 which held the record for the warmest year.
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts continued above-normal temperatures for most parts of India, particularly in the months of April, May, and June.
    • Despite the theoretical preventability of heat-related deaths and illnesses, gauging their public health impact remains challenging, as evidenced by the spike in admissions and fatalities in the mentioned districts.

Regions Most Prone to Increased Heatwaves

  • The states and regions at highest risk for heatwaves include Gujarat, Maharashtra, North Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, North Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • On April 6, parts of the Raichur district in Karnataka reported a high temperature of 45.2 degrees Celsius, resulting in seven individuals from various villages suffering from mild heat strokes.

 Trends and Impact of Rising Heatwave Threats

  • An EnviStats-IMD analysis highlighted an increasing trend in the average number of heatwave days annually:
    • 90 days in 1990-99
    • 94 days in 2000-09
    • 139 days in 2010-2019
    • 190 days in 2022
    • 42 days in 2020
  • Discrepancies exist in reported mortality statistics due to heatwaves:
    • IMD reported 10,545 deaths between 2000 and 2020
    • NDMA estimated 17,767 deaths
    • NCRB reported 20,615 deaths
  • The National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has launched a reporting platform to track heat-related illnesses (HRIs).

Discrepancies in Reported Heat-Related Deaths

  • breported 4 deaths in 2020.
  • EnviStats-India documented 27 deaths in 2020 and none in 2021.
  • Minister of Earth Sciences, in response to a Lok Sabha question, reported:
    • 1,274 heat-related deaths in 2019
    • 530 deaths in 2020
    • 374 deaths in 2021.
  • Key Aspects of Heat-Related Deaths
    • Actual number of heat-related deaths is likely higher than reported figures.
    • Peak in heat-related deaths occurred around 2015-16.
    • A declining trend in heat-related deaths has been observed since the peak.

Growing Public Health Challenge: Heatwaves in India

  • The number of states affected by heatwaves increased from 9 in 2015 to 23 in 2019.
  • Average heatwave days recorded during this period increased nearly five-fold, from 7.4 days to 32.2 days.
  • These trends highlight heatwaves as an escalating public health challenge in India.

Case Study: Heat-Related Deaths in Ballia and Deoria Districts, Uttar Pradesh

  • District hospitals in Ballia and Deoria witnessed a significant spike in admissions and recorded 150 deaths in just five days during the week of June 15-22, 2023.
  • While not all deaths were medically certified as heat-related, district officials confirmed that most deceased were above 60 years old and had co-morbidities that “may have aggravated due to the heatwave.”
    • A state-level investigation determined that heatstroke could have been “contributory” but not “causative” to the deaths.
  • Environmental analysts highlighted that temperatures reached about 45 degrees Celsius with a relative humidity of 30-50%, resulting in a “feels like” temperature exceeding 60 degrees Celsius, which is unquestionably life-threatening.

Challenges in Defining Heat-Related Mortality

  • The key question often overlooked is: What defines heat-related mortality when exposure to heat is a significant threat to high-risk populations, leading to increased morbidity and mortality?
  • While theoretically preventable, gauging the public health impact of extreme heat remains challenging, as reporting heat-related illnesses (HRIs) to public health authorities is not mandatory in most countries.
  • Environmental health experts emphasize that non-biomedical external factors are frequently omitted from death certificates, leading to inaccuracies in cause-of-death reporting or estimations.
  • An example of this is lightning strikes, where the direct cause might be a falling tree branch or a fire, but the indirect cause—the lightning strike triggering a series of events leading to mortality—is often not mentioned.
  • The US National Association of Medical Examiners defines a “heat-related death” as a death in which “exposure to high ambient temperature either caused the death or significantly contributed to it.”

European Analyses on Heat-Related Deaths

  • In Europe, a standard method to estimate heat-related deaths is recording and mapping excess deaths during specific periods.
  • During the exceptionally hot summer of 2003, over 70,000 excess deaths were recorded across 16 European countries with a combined population of approximately 400 million.
  • An epidemiological analysis of the Eurostat mortality database in July 2023 quantified the heat-related mortality burden during the summer of 2022, Europe’s hottest season to date:
    • Estimated 61,672 heat-related deaths in 35 countries between May 30 and September 4.
    • These countries have a combined population of 543 million, slightly less than half of India’s population.
    • Countries around the Mediterranean Sea, including Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, experienced the highest mortalities.

Public Health Preparedness and Risk Groups in India

  • The Union Health Minister reviewed public health preparedness for managing heat-related illnesses (HRIs) on April 3.
  • Updated Heat Action Plans are available in 23 states, and approximately 100 districts have initiated awareness campaigns.
  • High-risk groups for heat-related illnesses include:
    • Children, pregnant women, and the elderly
    • Individuals with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
    • Socially isolated individuals and the economically disadvantaged
  • As the summer season intensifies, both state and civil society will need to be vigilant in monitoring and supporting these extra-vulnerable populations.
Mitigating Strategies for Heat-Related Issues

  • Urban Greening: Implement greener and more permeable urban surfaces to reduce the urban heat island effect.

○      Mandate development plans for Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to increase the density and area of urban forests.

○      Utilize natural landscapes such as trees, parks, and vegetation for cooling effects.

  • Infrastructure: Adopt permeable materials in civic and residential construction to mitigate urban heat.

○      Promote cleaner cooking fuels like Biogas, Compressed Natural Gas, and Liquified Petroleum Gas to reduce indoor air pollution and urban heat.

○      Improve public transportation and discourage personal vehicle usage to lessen extreme heat waves.

  • Waste Management: Reduce landfill sizes, implement waste segregation, and manage solid waste at the source to decrease methane production and fires exacerbating urban heat.
  • Building Design: Advocate for the use of green roofs, cool roofs, and increased ventilation in buildings.

○   Implement passive cooling techniques like natural ventilation, shading, and thermal insulation to reduce indoor temperatures and energy consumption.

○   Install high-albedo roofs and pavements in buildings to reflect heat.

  • Renewable Energy: Encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy for cooling and electricity needs.
  • Public Awareness: Educate the public on the risks of heatwaves, methods to stay cool, and the importance of reducing carbon footprints.
  • Agricultural Adaptation: Support farmers with resilient farming practices considering heatwaves, droughts, and water scarcity risks.

○   Implement crop diversification, agroforestry, mulching, crop rotation, cover cropping, drip irrigation, and sprinkler systems.

  • Disaster Management: Develop emergency response plans for heatwaves, including establishing cool shelters and providing adequate medical facilities.

○   Short-term Measures: Establish an effective early warning system integrated with public health services and local governments to provide timely and accurate information to at-risk populations. Ensure quick resource mobilization in response to heatwaves.

○   Long-term Measures:  Implement structural infrastructure measures to help Indians adapt to extreme heat.

  • Green Transport: Encourage the use of public transport, bicycles, and electric vehicles to reduce vehicle emissions and traffic congestion.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/in-a-heatwave-how-do-we-protect-our-most-vulnerable-9263156/

Mains question

Examine the challenges and implications of accurately assessing and mitigating heat-related deaths in India. Discuss the vulnerabilities and public health measures needed to address this growing concern. (250 words)